Neuroprotective Recent research has demonstrated the protective effects of medicinal mushrooms on neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. One study reported significantly reduced amyloid β deposition in the brain, along with increased anti- oxidative enzymes and improved memory-related learning abilities in a mouse model supplemented with G. lucidum. Several other Alzheimer’s related benefits have been demonstrated by various medicinal mushrooms, including an increase in nerve growth factor production, a reduced rate of synaptic degradation, and the reversal of neuronal apoptosis.
CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTION Mushroom cultivation has many steps, including selection of mushroom fruiting culture, preparation of spawn and substrate/compost, inoculation of substrate, crop care, and finally, harvesting, handling, and proper storage of the mushrooms. There are three different categories of decomposers within the basidiomycetes genus, which represent a continuum in the metabolic transition from lignocellulosic and other organic waste materials to soil in the context of large-scale mushroom production. Primary decomposers (e.g., oyster and shiitake mushrooms) degrade cellulose and lignin from dead wood/logs, leaves, straw, cotton seed hulls, corn cobs or peanut shells, and do not depend on other organisms or their metabolites. Secondary decomposers (e.g., button mushrooms) colonize composted materials, and tertiary decomposers (e.g., agrocybe) are found in the soil. Today, indoor cultivation using artificial logs is a more common method for large-scale production. One method involves the use of plastic bags filled with sawdust-based substrates infused with nutrients. When the bag is colonized with mycelia, holes are poked through to enable fruiting to occur.
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